Nrusimha Nakha Stuti 

पान्त्वस्मान् पुरुहूतवैरिबलवन्मातङ्गमाद्यद्घटा-

कुम्भोच्चाद्रिविपाटनाधिकपटुप्रत्येकवज्रायिताः ।

श्रीमत्कण्ठीरवास्यप्रततसुनखरा दारितारातिदूर-

प्रध्वस्तध्वान्तशान्तप्रविततमनसा भाविता नाकिवृन्दैः ।।

Sri Nakha Stuti, is a one of its kind prayer, composed by Sri Madhwacharya, extolling the auspicious nails of Lord Narasimha. It is a couplet that is recited at the beginning and at the end of Vayu Stuti composed by Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya. It is one among the two works written by Sri Madhwacharya in praise of Lord Sri Hari. The other being Dvadasha Stotra. An interesting legend exists about why Nakha Stuti was composed by Sri Madhwacharya.

Legend

Once, Sri Madhwacharya was offering worship to the Lord. The disciples were asked to close the door and wait outside till Acharya gives permission to open the door. Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya, out of curiousness, peeped in from a hole to witness Acharya's worship. To his astonishment, he saw Sri Madhwacharya was worshipping Lord Rama, Lord Krishna, and Bhagavan Vedavyasa taking three forms - Hanuman, Bheemasena and Madhwa. With heart drenched in devotion and overflowing emotion, words in praise of the three forms to which he stood as a witness started to flow from his mouth. It is none other than the famous Vayu Stuti, in praise of the three forms of Lord Vayu. Spellbound by all that has materialized around him, he stood speechless with folded hands. Sri Acharya specially blessed Sri Trivikrama Panditacharya. As a form of his approval and blessings, he recited the Nakha Stuti and ordered for its recital in the beginning an end of Vayu Stuti as an auspicious invocation.

Summary of the verse

Sri Madhwacharya is praying to the nails of Lord Narasimha to protect us. The nails are adept, like Indra's thunderbolt, in destroying the elephant like demons. The nails drive away darkness. They are meditated upon by the celestials with a tranquil mind. Oh Lord, there is no one equal to you in the entire universe, how can we think of someone being superior to you. Accepting that there is someone superior to you is like accepting the eighth rasa when actually there are six rasas and the seventh rasa itself is an impossibility.

Unique Features of Nakha Stuti

» It is a two verse stotra extolling the nails of Lord Narasimha.

» This is the only verse in Sanskrit which extols the nails of the Lord.

» The uniqueness of the first verse is that it is composed in a combination of Shardula Vikridita and Sragdhara Meters. The first half is Shardula Vikridita and the second half is Sragdhara Meters. These kinds of compositions are very rare.

» The combination of Vritta selected is very apt to describe Lord Narasimha, who has lion face and body of a man.

» Acharya packs a great amount of devotion into these two verses making them very powerful in driving away our enemies both internal as well as external.

» The poetic marvel of Sri Madhwacharya in this verse is outstanding.

Conclusion

Sri Madhwacharya's Nakha Stuti can be considered to be a great blessing to all devotees of the Lord. In a very rare combination of Shardula Vikriditam and Sragdhara meters, the Nakha Stuti, is a very powerful mantra to ward of all evil and bring good fortune.

लक्ष्मीकान्तसमन्ततोविकलयन्नैवेशितुस्ते समं

पश्याम्युत्तमवस्तुदूरतरतोपास्तं रसो योष्टम्ः ।

यद्रोषोत्करदक्षनेत्रकुटिलप्रान्तोत्थिताग्निस्फुरत्

खद्योतोपविस्फुलिङ्गभसिता ब्रह्मेशशक्रोत्कराः ।।